^\VJiITEHALL, 

(^OLofBOR^ 





P£c. i862 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

i^aB.^^SnrWl)o.--" 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



KINSTON, 
WHITEHALL AND GOLDSBORO 



(NORTH CAROLINA) 



EXPEDITION, ^%-^ 



December, 1862. ^V^ 



JAN 18 ;89I '\ J^ * 




NEW YORK, 

W. W. HOWE, 

157 E. 87th Street, 

1890, 






./, 



Xdh 



Copyrighted by 
W. W Howe, New York City. 

1890. 



Zo tbe 

MOTHERS 



WHO WERE EVER THOUGHTFUL OF THEIR 
ABSENT ONES, AND TO THOSE 

COMRADES 

WHO ANSWERED THE LAST CALL 
AND HAVE PASSED TO THE OTHER SIDE, ALSO TO MY 

. COMRADES 

WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND TO FIGHT 
THE BATTLE OF LIFE, 

THIS LITTLE MEMENTO, 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, WITH THE HOPE 

THAT THE MEMORIES IT WILL REVIVE 

/ WILL SERVE TO UNITE US AS STRONGLY IN THE FUTURE 

AS IN THOSE DAYS OP 

'< '62." 



ERRATA. 



On Contents, note, for "Grey read " Gray.'''' 
On page 32, note, ist line, for "Willson"read '■'Wilson^ 
7th " «« 
61 '* for '* Wi n ton" read " 7>-<?«/^w." 
80 " loth line, for "Bowler" read '^ Boler.^^ 
91 '« 6th «' '* '* «* 

I of Index 23 ♦' " *• " " 

8 " add, N. Y. 23d Independent Battery — p. 44 

8 " " " 24th *' '* ** 

11 " *' " 23d " Batteries *• 

12 " " " 24th '* " «* 



PREFACE. 

The letter press from New York Herald, Dec. 
20-25, 1862, by permission, also New York Times. 
The illustrations of Kinston, Whitehall and Golds- 
boro, also portrait of Gen. J. G Foster, are re- 
produced from Harper's History of the Rebellion, 
by arrangement with Messrs. Harpers Brothers. 

New York, Dec. 1, ISOO. 



CONTENTS. 



Commencement of the March, 9 

Battle of Kinston, 14 

Battle of Whitehall, 16 

Battle of Goldsboro, 17 

Death of Colonel C. O. Grey, 58 

Losses in the Three Battles, 77 

Death of Major General John G. Foster, . . .82 
Obsequies of Major General John G. Poster, . . 86 
List of Regiments in the Expedition, . . . .89 
Index, 93 



KINSTON, WHITEHALL, GfOLDSBORO 

NORTH CAROLINA. 

Expedition, December, 1862. 



In the Field, Fifteen Miles from ) 
New Berne, Dec. 11, 1862. j 

Major General J. G. Foster commenced a 
movement of his army from New Berne this 
morning. At 3 p. m. we came upon the 
enemy's pickets (near our present camping 
ground), when three prisoners were taken by 
the advance guard of the Third New York 
Cavalry. In attempting to press forward we 
found the road densely blockaded by. felled 
trees; this blockade extended for several hun- 
dred yards, being situated in the midst of a 
swamp possessing an abundance of creeks. 
Owing to this obstruction it became abso- 



10 Kinsion^ WJiitehall^ Golclsboro. 

lutely necessary to halt here for the night. 
During the same time the woods were cleared 
and with great rapidity, too, by j)ioi^6^rs 
from several regiments and a strong force of 
"pioneer contrabands " — the latter under the 
direction of the civil engineer of this de- 
partment, Henry W. Wilson. 

DECEaiBER 12, 1862. 

During the past night the Ninth New Jer- 
sey Infantry, under command of Colonel 
Heckmann, advanced through the swamp 
and took up a position within three miles of 
Trenton, engaging the enemy successfully for 
a short time. 

At 9.30 o'clock to day we came upon a 
body of rebel cavalry and an ambush of 
rebel infantry. Captain Marshall, with Com- 
pany B. , of the Third New York Cavalry, 
charged the enemy's cavalry, driving them 
ahead, taking seven prisoners and wounding 
or killing the captain of the company, be- 
sides killing and wounding a few others. In 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 11 

this charge we lost four men, who were taken 
prisoners ; also Franklin Kingsley, who was 
wounded in the leg, and Augustus G. Butler, 
who was wounded in the side. We had 
other light skirmishing during the day ; also 
took a few more prisoners. 

December 13, 1862. 

We advanced at daylight, making several 
feints on various roads, but always finding 
the enemy posted in such a manner as to be 
able to destroy the bridges and otherwise re- 
tarding our movements. About 9 o'clock. 
Company K., Captain Cole, of the Third 
New York Cavalry, came upon the enemy 
at a place called Southwest Creek. The 
rebels had an earthwork thrown up directly 
across the road. Behind it they had posted 
four guns. Captain Cole attempted to charge 
across the bridge, but found it partially de- 
stroyed. He then retired a short distance, 
after leaving John Costello wounded in the 
face, when the rebels opened fire with their 



12 Kinst07i, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

artillery and small arms. We returned the 
fire with carbines, driving the enemy for 
several minutes from a piece of his artillery, 
which was posted at the other end of the 
bridge. About this time Lieutenant-Colonel 
Mix arrived with a force of cavalry and a 
section of the Third New York Artillery, 
under command of Lieutenant Day. This 
section opened fire with shot with good effect. 

Near 10 o'clock the Ninth New Jersey In- 
fantry was brought into action ; also Mor- 
rison' s battery, of the Third New York Ar- 
tillery. By the aid of both of these forces 
the enemy was soon driven from his position. 
As soon as the battery ceased firing, the 
Ninth New Jersey forded the creek and 
charged upon the battery. The battery was 
taken, the old flag of the Union waved over 
it, and cheers were given and an interesting 
scene enacted. 

While the bridge was being rebuilt, and 
while the '' black pioneer brigade" was 
again making itself eminently useful, Colo- 



Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldsbor'o. 13 

nel Heckmann pushed forward with theNinth 
New Jersey, again engaging the enemy, cap- 
turing a Kodman gun, killing three of the 
enemy and taking a few more prisoners. 
Colonel Heckmann was soon after supported 
by Brigadier-General WesselFs brigade. 

Just as the sun was sinking in the west 
we came upon two regiments of rebel infan- 
try and two of their pieces of artillery, posted 
on a rise of ground behind a dense woods. 
The Ninth New Jersey once more advanced 
and drove the enemy back upon their guns 
after a rapid and sharp fire, when Captain 
Morrison's battery, of the Third New York 
Artillery, forced him to retire from his po- 
sition, ceasing his fire altogether. Before 
the Ninth New Jersey got engaged, Captain 
Cole, with Company K., of the Third New 
York Cavalry, charged the enemy, clearing 
the road and driving the rebels to the woods. 
In this charge Franklin Chapman was 
wounded in the leg. Night having set in, 
we encamped about three miles and a half 



14 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

or four miles from Kinston. In the evening 

affair our losses were : Cliiford, of the 

JN'inth New Jersey, jaw broken ; and 

Neucommer of the same regiment, taken 
prisoner. 

December 14, 1862. 

Almost immediately after commencing 
anew our advance, we came upon a force of 
the enemy, entering into a heavy skirmish 
and then a general engagement. 

The Ninth New Jersey advanced slowly 
down the road and then into the woods on 
either side. These skirmishers stood their 
ground until their entire stock of ammunition 
was exhausted, when the Eighty-fifth Penn • 
sylvania was ordered up to support the Ninth. 
They did their duty well. This was at 10 
o'clock. The enemy having brought his ar- 
tillery into action, we returned a similar and 
much more effective fire from Captain Mor- 
rison's battery, of the Third New York Ar- 
tillery, the latter being posted in a small 
field, on a rise of ground, within eight hun- 



Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldsboro. 15 

dred yards of the enemy. Soon after Cap- 
tains Schenck's and E. S. Jenney's batter- 
ies were brought into play, from different 
and the best available positions on either side 
of the road. The engagement having be- 
come more general, Brigadier- General Wes- 
sell's brigade was ordered up. It comprised 
the Eighty-fifth, One Hundred and First and 
One Hundred and Tliird Pennsylvania, and 
the Eighty-eighth, Ninety second and Nine- 
ty-sixth New York. After the Forty -fifth, 
Seventeenth and Twenty third Massachusetts 
Regiments had been ordered up. General 
Wessel, who was on the field, ordered the 
execution of a fiank movement on the 
enemy's battery So it was that while a small 
portion of this force operated to the left, the 
remainder moved through a woods to the 
right, also flanking a swamp, and got a po- 
sition on the line of an open field that en- 
abled our men to play upon the enemy with 
intense effect and remarkable execution. 
The Ninth New Jersey, after sustaining a 



16 Khiston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 

terriffic fire from the enemy, obtained a po- 
sition close to the bridge, being handsomely 
supported by the Seventeenth Massachusetts, 
and then it was that we found ourselves 
almost on the banks of the Neuse river, with 
a long fortification on the opposite side. 
This fortification, one hundred and seventy- 
five feet long, thoroughly commanded all 
the approaches to the bridge. In it and sup- 
porting it were three companies of light ar- 
tillery, four companies of heavy artillery, 
two North Carolina regiments, the Second, 
Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Twenty-third 
South Carolina Regiments, a portion of the 
Third North Carolina Cavalry, part of Ma- 
jor Nethercote's battalion, and the Raleigh 
detachment, under command of Colonel 
Molett, who was wounded in the leg — in all 
about six thousand strong. 

The Forty -fifth and Twenty- third Massa- 
chusetts Regiments advanced to the right 
and helped to execute the flank movement. 
While the above was being done, Captain 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 17 

Jacobs, with his company of the Third New- 
York Cavalry and some light (Third New 
York) artillery, advanced on another road, 
to the right of the main column, and at- 
tracted as well as distracted the attention of 
the enemy. 

Captain Jacobs came upon a regiment of 
rebel infantry, engaged them, drove them 
off with artillery, and then charged his men 
across, thereby saving quite an important 
bridge. Another diversion was created by 
Major Garrard, who was sent another road 
with a portion of his battalion of the Third 
New York Cavalry, one piece of Allis' Fly- 
ing Artillery and two or three other light 
field pieces. 

The gunboats, under command of Captain 
Murray, of the navy, and Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel Manchester, advanced up to the blockade 
and kept up a heavy firing. By this means 
General Evans was mystified regarding our 
order of movements that he would not bring 
the entire force under his command into op- 



18 Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

eration in such a manner as to unitedly 
affect our main column. 

After a sharp engagement for over three 
hours, we drove the enemy from his en- 
trenchments and got possession of the 
bridge. The latter was fired in three places, 
but the Ninth New Jersey, a few of the 
Third New York Artillery, and the Provost- 
Marshall, Major Franklin, advanced in 
haste and put out the flames before the fire 
had done any material injury. Immediately 
our advance regiments crossed, when the 
Tenth Connecticut advanced upon the enemy 
and drove him over the fields forcing him to 
retreat to the further end of the town. 

KiNSTON, N. C, Dec. 14, 1862. \ 
[Afternoon. J f 

Your correspondent crossed with the 

regiment, and Ninth New Jersey, and found 

lying on the bridge three or four men who 

had been shot down, smothered by the 

smoke, and burned by the flames ; also an 

abundance of arms. Soon after we found 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 19 

tliat we had captured elevea pieces of artil- 
lery, taken 400 prisoners, (all of whom were 
paroled by the provost- marshal), 1,000 
rounds of heavy ammunition, 500 stands of 
arms, a dozen or so gun carriages and a large 
quantity of commissary and quartermaster 
stores. These latter were solely saved 
through the exertions of Major Franklin, 
who found them in flames at the storehouses. 
We found the railroad depot in flames and 
that was also saved. 

On. looking around tne town we found 
every evidence of our large and small shot 
having taken excellent effect. By the time 
two or three of our regiments had crossed, 
Major-General Foster dispatched Col. Potter, 
under a flag of truce, to communicate with 
Gfen. Evans, and to demand a surrender of his 
forces. The flag was recognized. We found 
the rebel regiments retreating up the rail- 
road and on the road and in various ways, 
straggling and otherwise, toward Golds- 
boro. 



20 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro, 

Gfeneral Evans refused to comply, on high 
military grounds, etc. Soon after our ar- 
tillery commenced anew to shell the rebels 
across the town, firing low — in fact so low 
that some of the shells swept very closely 
over our heads. General Evans then sent, 
by flag of truce, his compliments, etc., to 
Gen. Foster, and requested a place of safety 
for the women and children, as he intended 
to return the fire from his artillery. Our ar- 
tillery ceased firing, and the women and chil- 
dren that could be found were conducted to a 
place of safety, when, we found, on prepar- 
ing again for action, that the bird had flown ; 
that General Evans had succeeded durino; 
the flag of truce operations in safely con- 
ducting off what remained of his entire com- 
mand. We then advanced a short distance 
and encamped for the night. 

Our loss in wounded is between 100 and 
120. Our total loss in killed, wounded and 
missing will not exceed 150. Colonel Gray, of 
the Ninety-sixth New York, was killed. Two 



Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldsboro. 21 

or three other officers were wounded We 
cannot at this time ascertain the names of 
these. 

All the combinations worked well, and 
General Foster deserves great credit for not 
only his plan of operations, but also the 
effective manner in which he carried them 
out. 

Gfeneral Foster will recommend Colonel 
Heckmann, of the Ninth New Jersey, for a 
brigadier -generalship. Colonel Hunt, of the 
Ninety-second New York, made two splen- 
did charges witli his regiment, and will also 
be recommended for a brigadier-generalship. 
The Tenth Connecticut lost heavily. They 
fought until they used up all their ammuni- 
tion, and then advanced with the bayonet. 

GeneralFoster highly commends Colonel 
Ledlie, acting brigadier-general of artil- 
lery, for the energetic and skillful manner 
in which he operated a portion of his pieces, 
or those brought into action. 

During the engagement. Captain Cole, 



22 Khuton, Whitehall, Goldshoro, 

with Company K, of the Third New York 
Cavalry, was in position in the nearest open 
field, ready for a charge, if such a thing was 
possible, notwithstanding the shot and shell 
which iell around the company on all sides. 

During the whole affair all the troops 
engaged behaved with great courage, and 
promptly executed the orders of the com-, 
manding generals. 

We advance for Goldsboro at daylight 
to-morrow. 

On the road, just after crossing the bridge, 
we found the following letter (it evidently 
had been dropped during the course of the 
enemy's hasty retreat): 

Goldsboro, Dec. ] 4, 1862. 

General Evans: All the men I have here have 
been sent to you. You received them last night. 
Rogers is nearly with jo\x, 400 strong. I under- 
stand from rumors that three other regiments are 
on their way here from Petersburg. 

J. A. J. Bradford. 

We learn that the Rogers force arrived 
just in time to retreat. 



Kinston, Whitehall, Golclshoro. 23 

The rebels destroyed some eighty or 
ninety bales of cotton. This we found burn- 
ing as we entered the town. Most of it 
belonged to a Scotchman named Nicolo. 

During the evening a house accidentally 
got on fire, when the flames communicated 
to three or four others, all being destroyed. 
Energetic measures were taken to subdue 
the Hames. 

The provost guard arrangement works 
admirably. Little or no damage is being 
done. The good conduct of the troops is 
remarkable. 

FIFTH DAY. 

In the Field, Dec. 15, 1862. 
We moved out of Kinston at a very early 
hour this morning, and marched up the line 
of the Neuse River on the side opposite to 
that place. The road lay through a section 
of country hilly and comparatively poor. 
During the day we came upon the enemy's 
pickets and drove them in, taking three or 



24 Kinstouy Whitehall^ Goldshoro. 

four prisoners. By sunset we had marched 
seventeen miles. We then bivouacked for 
the night. This day's march was consid- 
ered a very good one, considering the 
fatigued condition of the troops. On march- 
ing out of Kinston and recrossing the river 
the bridge we so fortunately saved the day 
previous was totally destroyed, in order to 
defeat any design on the part of General 
Evans to follow up and attack us in the 
rear. When the main column halted for the 
night Major Garrard, with his battalion of 
the Third New York Cavalry, and a section 
of Captain Jenney's battery of the Third 
New York Artillery, were sent forward to 
dash into and take a small town on the 
Neuse, known as Whitehall. To do this we 
had to go a distance of three and a half 
miles from the main column. This we 
accomplished at a full gallop ; but, notwith- 
standing we pushed forward so rapidly, we 
found on our arrival the bridge over the 
river in flames. We also learned that a Yir- 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 25 

ginia regiment had just retreated across the 
bridge, and that they would be heavily 
reinforced on the following morning. The 
Major immediately ordered a reconnoissance 
of the whole position by dismounted cavalry- 
men. In this reconnoissance we found pre- 
vious reports confirmed, in that we discov- 
ered a rebel gunboat on the other side of the 
river. 

To destroy the gunboat which was not 
fully completed, was one of our principal 
objects ; but to do it in the face of an enemy, 
concealed in the woods on the opposite 
bank, was a different matter. In order to 
cast a heavy reflection of light on the enemy, 
we set fire to large quantities of turpentine, 
in barrels, in sheds and otherwise. This 
rendered the scene one of peculiar and lively 
interest. The flames ascended in all forms 
and to various heights, communicating to and 
firing many of the adjacent trees. During all 
this time the enemy laid low in the woods, 
only firing one or two small arms. 



26 Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

After brief deliberation, the Major deter- 
mined to call upon some one to volunteer 
and swim the river ; then, after swimming 
it, to board the gunboat and fire it. To 
do this daring deed, Henry Butler, of 
Company C, Third New York Cavalry, vol- 
unteered. Our artillery was ordered up, and 
opened with shell to the right and left of the 
bridge. Butler then undressed, ran down 
the bank, plunged into the river, and swam 
to the opposite side. He then started to get 
a fire brand at the burning bridge, when the 
enemy opened fire on him. Butler instantly 
turned and ran for the river, followed by a 
couple of the enemy (who quickly sprang 
from their hiding places), jumped into the 
water, was again fired upon, and finally 
reached his old position without injury. For 
this gallant act the Major highly compli- 
mented Butler on the spot and while Butler 
was in a situation not observable in civilized, 
un warlike society. We then gave the enemy 
a severe dose of canister, and, finding that 



Kinstotij Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 27 

we could not well get over to the gunboat, 
we battered it to pieces with shot and shell. 
The vessel was a small one, flat bottomed, 
intended for fast river navigation, designed 
for one or two guns, built somewhat after 
the form of the Merrimac, iron plating and 
all. We then returned to camp, having 
acccomplished our purpose. 

In connection with our movements to-day 
I may add that the enemy was completely 
outwitted. From the fact of our having 
fought hard to save Kinston bridge, and 
then crossed to the opposite side, occupying 
the town, the enemy prepared to meet us at 
Mosely Hall — a small town adjacent to the 
line of the Goldsboro and Kinston railroad 
— supposing that we intended proceeding to 
that town along the right bank of the Neuse. 
Instead of that, as will be observed by what 
is above, we passed up on the other side, 
leaving Mosely Hall, with its armed force, 
far to the right. 



28 Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

SIXTH DAY. 

■Whitehall, Dec. 16, p. m. 

The column again moved at an early hour 
this morning in the direction of Whitehall. 
As we neared the town an open space 
revealed our approach to the enemy, the 
latter being concealed in a thick woods on 
the opposite side of the river. Heavy skir- 
mishing immediately ensued between the 
I^inth New Jersey and three regiments of 
rebels. Major Garrard who was in advance 
of the column, with three pieces of artillery 
and a squadron of cavalry, passed over a 
high hill behind the skirmishers, in full 
sight of the enemy, until he got to the left 
of those in action, and then opened with his 
artillery. In a few minutes other artillery 
came up, when the Major ceased tiring. 
Although his cavalry force was in a position 
of great exposure, under a heavy fire for 
quite a while, still the loss was quite trifling. 

Under cover of action on both sides. Major 
Garrard, with his command, pressed on past 



Kinston, Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 29 

Whitehall, and made a rapid march (a dis- 
tance of over twenty miles) to Mount Olive 
Station, a small place situated on the line of 
the Wilmington and Goldsboro railroad. 
While Major Garrard vras away, in order to 
cover his operations, General Foster entered 
into a regular engagement at Whitehall. 

The enemy, having destroyed the bridge 
over the river, showed that he labored under 
the impression that we would attempt to 
cross at this point; whereas, if he had not 
been so fast, he would have discovered that 
it was our intention to burn the bridge on 
the previous evening. The engagement at 
Whitehall lasted for over three hours. The 
enemy operated against us with a force of 
about ^YQ or six thousand infantry and 
three batteries of artillery. The Ninth New 
Jersey Volunteers, General Wessell' s brigade, 
and a couple of Massachusetts regiments, 
were engaged in the fight. A few other 
regiments were brought under fire ; and, as 
they lost a few men, I suppose they claim to 



30 Kmstoiij Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

being in the fight also. My accounts of the 
killed and wounded will explain the engage- 
ments in which the regiments participated. 
Neither in the battles of Kinston or White- 
hall was over half our forces engaged at one 
time, especially not in tire latter. 

The better to deceive the enemy, G-eneral 
Foster made feint of rebuilding the bridge 
under fire. A feint was also made to cross 
the river ; and a few of one of our Massa- 
chusetts regiments, not knowing that they 
were only to make a feint, actually swam 
across the river and got on the opposite 
bank. Of course they were forced back. 
Under the direction of Colonel Ledlie (act- 
ing brigadier-general), our artillery was so 
admirably posted and gallantly worked that 
we silenced the enemy's fire, and drove him, 
infantry, artillery and. all, away far back 
from the river bank. After this we could, 
of course, have crossed the river ; but the 
scope of General Foster's plan tended still 
more to deceive the enemy. Under cover of 



Kinstoriy Whitehall, Goldsboro. 31 

infantry firing and the working of two sec- 
tions of artillery we passed on without fur- 
ther molestations" and went into camp for 
the night several miles the other side of 
Whitehall. 

Mount Olive Station, Dec. 16, 1863. 

On leaving the main column we pressed 
rapidly on, on regular and by-roads until we 
reached a swamp. Here we struck a tur- 
pentine path, and after a full gallop of a 
distance of over four miles, came out at this 
station at 3 p. m. This action was a perfect 
surprise to the people of the place. The 
ticket agent was selling tickets ; passengers 
were loitering around waiting for the cars, 
the mail for Wilmington laid ready on the 
platform, and a few paroled prisoners were 
in readiness to go to Wilmington, probably 
to tight again. As a matter of course, for 
the time being. Major Garrard put every- 
body under arrest. The telegraph wire 
was immediately and afterwards effectually 



32 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

cut and destroyed by Captain Willson, of 
the Third New York Cavalry. Mount Olive 
is seventeen miles from Goldsboro, and as I 
have specified before, immediately on the 
line of the Gfoldsboro and Wilmington 
railroad. 

Captains Willson and Pond, with their 
respective commands of the Third New 
York Cavalry, were sent seven miles in the 
direction of Wilmington, to destroy an 
extensive bridge and trestle work. This 
they accomplished with great labor, after a 
few minutes' skirmishing and joined our 
main forces by dusk. In connection with 
the destruction of these bridges they also 
destroyed the track and set fire to cross ties 
in several places. While this was being 
done, Captain Jacobs, with a company of 
the Third New York Cavalry, and one piece 
of Allis' Flying artillery, was sent three and 
a half miles in the direction of Goldsboro, on 
the line of the railroad, to destroy the tracks, 
some culverts and a bridge. Just as Captain 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 33 

Jacobs reached the three and a half mile 
point the mail train from Goldsboro came 
rattling down. The engineer on the train, 
in coming around a sharp turn, observed 
ahead a heavy dark smoke, immediately 
whistled down brakes, and reversed his 
order of proceeding. Notwithstanding this, 
Captain Jacobs was enabled to bring his 
pieces of artillery into such a position as to 
give the retreating train the force of three 
shells. After doing his business, and well 
and ably developing the bumps of destruc- 
tion in North Carolina, he joined us at 
Mount Olive just about sundown. 

By this time we at Mount Olive Station 
had taken up a large extent of the track, 
destroyed the switches and did all the dam- 
age we could ; then, about 8 o'clock, 
we set out for a change of base, made several 
strategical movements through woods and 
swamps and reached the camp of the great 
army about midnight, having cut across, as 



34 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro, 

explained above, without moving on any 
main road more than live minutes at a time. 

On leaving Mount Olive I paused for a 
moment to behold the sight presented to our 
view. I saw the railroad apparently on fire 
for miles in extent, huge fires of ties and 
warping rails, and the blank amazement that 
was but too evident on the faces of our newly 
released prisoners. The woods were bright 
and radient with the reflected light ; our 
hidden road was also illuminated, and all 
nature seemed changed — as the light reflect- 
ed on the water in the swamp— if not to one 
of beauty, at least to a great degree of at- 
tractiveness. As we left, the boys gave three 
cheers for the Major's success, and the same 
was highly complimented by General Foster, 
on making his report to that ofiicer. 

We had hardly left Mount Olive Station 
over an hour when the enemy came down as 
near as he could with a so-called "Merrimac 
Railroad Car," and shelled the woods for 
quite a while. 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 35 

SEVENTH DAY. 

On the Field, Dec 17, 1862. 

We resumed our line of march this morn- 
iug and got on a high hill and in full sight 
of a large force of the enemy drawn up in 
line on the railroad, without meeting any- 
thing of importance to impede our progress. 

Having the advantage of position, being 
on a hill, over a mile from the railroad, 
with an entirely open country before us, the 
river on our right and a dense wood to the 
left — we opened on the enemy with shell. 
For a very short space of time the rebels 
stood their ground; but so accurately did we 
get the range of their position, rapidly 
throwing in the shells, that the enemy broke 
front and line, and commenced a precipitate 
retreat across the river on the railroad bridge. 
We kept up our firing with considerable 
rapidity, and by that means cut off the re- 
treat of two rebel regiments, who fell back 
into thick woods on the other side of the 
railroad Colonel Ledlie then moved a bat- 



36 Khiston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

tery to within less than half a mile of the 
enemy's position. The Ninth New Jersey 
was sent, to support the battery, across an 
open field and afterwards beyond it, until 
the regiment got close to the right of the 
railroad bridge, and a short distance from 
the enemy and the river. While these op- 
erations were being carried out, the Seven- 
teenth Massachusetts, under command of 
Lieutenant-Colonel Fellows, moved to the 
left, into the woods, waded through a mill 
stream, and came out on the railroad line 
directly in front of the enemy. By this time 
and while the Seventeenth was slowly ad- 
vancing, the enemy commenced a rapid fire 
of shot and shell from a battery concealed 
in the woods across the river, and to the left 
of the bridge, looking from our position, as 
also from their iron-clad railroad car, occu- 
pying a position on the other side of the 
river, close to the entrance to the bridge 
At this point they also had sharpshooters, 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 37 

who tried hard, but did not well succeed in 
picking off our men. 

By the time the action had become toler- 
ably heavy we heard the whistle of an ap- 
proaching train, and soon after learned from 
prisoners that the rebel General Pettigrew 
had just arrived with reinforcements in the 
way of a big brigade. 

One of our shells was seen to pass along a 
platform car, thereby creating so much con- 
fusion as to delay General Pettigrew from 
coming immediately into action. Having 
got range of the train, we threw the shells in 
so fast that in a little while it moved further 
off and out of range of our guns. 

The object of General Foster's penetrating 
so far inland being to destroy this railroad 
bridge, he now gave orders to have it burned. 
Colonel Heckmann, who got the order, called 
for volunteers to carry into effect the gen- 
eral's desire. Many volunteered from the 
Seventeenth Massachusetts and Ninth New 
Jersey Regiments, so the Colonel selected 



*^S Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

some from each regiment to go and do the 
work. Several advances were made to fire, 
but our men were driven back. In one of 
the advances a former adjutant of the 
Seventeenth was dangerously wounded. 

Finally, Lieutenant Graham, of the Rocket 
Battery, and now acting aid to Colonel 
Heckmann, and Wm. Lemons, a private in 
the Ninth New Jersey, advanced under the 
enemy's heavy firing, when Lieutenant 
Graham got near enough to, and did fire, the 
bridge. 

As soon as we saw the bridge in flames 
the General gave orders to have the railroad 
track destroyed. Two Massachusetts regi- 
ments, who had been lying in reserve, stacked 
arms and rushed upon the track with yells 
and cheers, and did the work of destruction 
at short notice. The rails and ties were 
thoroughly destroyed by physical power and 
the effect of fire. 

General Foster having successfully ac- 
complished all his plans, and more, to day 



Kin8t07i^ Whitehall, Goldshoro. 39 

determined to withdraw his forces from the 
field, and to fall back to the first convenient 
camping place for the night. The column 
was got in motion (each regiment cheering 
the General as it passed), and we had ad- 
vanced a considerable distance (probably 
two miles), with the supply train, etc. in 
front. When the rebels, seeing the last 
brigade, Col. Lee's, about to move, and some 
distance from the artillery, took courage and 
rushed out of the woods on the other side of 
the railroad, and gave the rallying cry and 
yell that follows it. Immediately afterwards 
two South Carolina regiments, who had come 
from Franklin, fired a volley and then 
charged with the bayonet on Morrison's 
battery. The enemy were allowed to get 
rather close to the battery, when the guns 
opened on them with canister. Belger's 
battery put in a powerful cross fire, and Col. 
Lee's brigade wheeled into line and did 
excellent execution. The rebels made this 
bayonet charge with great dash and courage. 



40 Kiiiston^ Whitehall, Goldsboro, 

but, notwithstanding, they were repulsed 
with great loss of life, and an amusing and 
astonishing precipitancy. 

Of course, this latter movement on the 
part* of the rebels had the effect of halting 
our column for several hours. Not knowing 
but that they might be in strong force this 
side of the river, we made every preparation 
to enter into a regular engagement. How- 
ever after a renewed fight, lasting nearly two 
hours, we again silenced the enemy's fire, and 
pursued our retrograde movement. In the 
last fight the rebels opened from two batter- 
ies instead of one— their iron plated car — 
and brought into action their infantry on 
both sides of the river. 

In the battle of this bridge the rebels had, 
as prisoners report, between eight and ten 
thousand troops engaged. We never had 
over one- third of our force engaged. About 
nine o'clock p. m. our army bivouacked for 
the night, between Whitehall and the Golds- 
boro railroad bridge. 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 41 

While the battle was progressing at the 
bridge, Major Pitzsimmons with his battal- 
ions of the Third New York Cavalry made a 
dash against Dudley Station, on the line of 
the Wilmington railroad, live miles from the 
Goldsboro railroad bridge, took prisoners 
several rebel pickets, captured and destroyed 
a train of four cars, took up three miles of the 
railroad, track, burned some trestle work, a 
bridge, and other little et ceteras^ including 
a most complete destruction of the telegraph 
line, and joined the main column without 
loss to his command. The Major also re- 
peated a similar experiment at Everett 
Station, on the line of the same railroad. 
Major Garrard with his battalion of the 
Third New York Cavalry went (while the 
main army was moving)early in the morning 
to Tompkins bridge, over the Neuse river. 
He took with him a section of Ransom's 
Twenty-third New York Artillery. On 
arriving in the vicinity of the bridge Captain 
Jacobs, with his company of cavalry, was 



42 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

ordered to charge down to it. He did so, 
found tlie bridge in flames, and received fire 
from the enemy. It will again be seen that 
the enemy was deceived in regard to a cross- 
ing of the Neuse. The Major immediately 
opened with his artillery, and at the same 
time despatched a messenger to inform Gen- 
eral Foster with regards to his position, con- 
dition, etc. As soon as General Foster re- 
ceived the information he reinforced the 
Major with four pieces of artillery from 
AngelTs battery and the Forty-third Mas- 
sachusetts Regiment under command of 
Colonel Holbrook. After a fight of over two 
hoars we silenced the enemy's heavy guns 
and musketr}^, and returned to the main 
column with a loss of one killed and four 
wounded. Before leaving, our forces could 
go anywiiere in that neighborhood, along 
the banks of the river, without being fired 
at. The rebels had eight pieces of artillery 
and four regiments of infantry at this bridge. 
About 10 o'clock Allis' Flying artillery, and 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 43 

Companies G, A, and D, of the Third New 
York Cavalry , in attempting to join the main 
column from another direction, were attacked 
by two pieces of the rebel's artillery, and, as 
is supposed, about a regiment of rebel infant- 
ry. In less than fifteen minutes our artillery 
silenced that of the enemy. 

During the engagement a chaplain of one 
of the Massachusetts regiments, who was on 
the field, seeing one of the men of Battery 
B, Third New York Artillery, being borne off 
wounded, said to him: "Were you sup- 
ported by Divine inspiration ?" "No!" was 
the reply, "we were supported by the Ninth 
New Jersey." 

On the battle field at Whitehall, Colonel 
Ledlie (chief of artillery) received a very 
slight wound on the hand from one of the 
rebels' shells. 

During the progress of our operations 
there were brought into action, at various 
times, Belger's battery, batteries A, B, C, D, 
E. H, I, F, and K, of the Third New York 



44 Kiuston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

Artillery, and the Twenty-third and Twenty- 
fourth (independent) New York Batteries. 
The whole of our artillery was worked 
admirably. 

Captain Morrison's battery of the Third 
New York Artillery had three men wounded, 
and lost the same number of horses. Cap- 
tain Morrison took at the battle of Kinston 
forty-one prisoners, including two commi^^- 
sioned officers. At the battle of the railroad 
bridge he took seven more prisoners. When 
his battery was charged by the South Caro- 
lina regiments he kept up a steady fire until 
every round of his ammunition was gone, and 
then gave way to Captain Belger. Captain 
Riggs' battery was also engaged in helping 
to repulse the charge of the South Carolina 
brigade. In the battles of the 16th and 17th 
Captain Ammon's battery did good execu- 
tion, and without sustaining any casualties 
in the company. These three batteries while 
in action, were under the immediate com- 
mand of Major Kennedy. At Mount Olive 



Kinston, Whitehall, Gokhboro. 45 

Station, among the private papers of the 
postmaster was found the following: 

" Whereas, we, the people of the counties of 
Wayne and DnhHn, haye seen a proclamation 
from the black republican president, Abraham 
Lincoln, calling for seventy-five thousand men, 
(and a call made on North Carolina among the 
rest), for the purpose of subjugating our Southern 
brethren of the Confederate States, who are ask- 
ing nothing but for their rights to be respected 
and their institutions let alone, the interest of 
North Carolina being identified with the said Con- 
federate States, we, as her citizens, deem it highly 
necessary to express our views to the world, irre- 
spective of former party ties; therefore 

Resolved, That the example of our patriotic 
forefathers is too plainlj^ set before us to be un- 
mindful of our duty. We know the cause of the 
Confederate States to be the supreme interest of 
North Carolina; therefore, we pledge our fortunes, 
our lives and oar most sacred honors in the main- 
tenance of the said cause. 

Resolvecly That, for the aid and furtherance of 
said cause and the defence of our homes and our 



46 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 

rights, Ave will form a military company for the 
purj^ose of drilling that we may be the better pie- 
pared to defend our homes and our country. 

Besolved, That we call upon all good citizens to 
sustain us and give us their aid for the support of 
our company. 

Resolved, That the manly and patriotic cour- 
age of His Excellency, John W. Ellis, in ordering 
our forts taken and held by troops of this State, 
and his independent denial of troops to Abe Lin- 
coln to sustain him in his diabolical policj^, meets 
the entire approbation of this company and this 
community." 

Our total loss is between four and live 
liundred. In all we took over five hundred 
prisoners, 

EIGHTH DAY. 

December 18, 1862. 
The army marched this day to within seven 
miles of Kinston. We had to pass through 
woods on fire; some of the natives had pur- 
posely and some of our men having acci- 
dentally (the latter through the medium of 



Klnston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 47 



their camp tires) communicated tiames to the 
turpentine trees. Though the scene was 
novel and pleasing still it was dangerous, 
and at times somewhat more than this. 

NINTH DAY. 

December, 19, 1862. 
Your correspondent left the army about 
seven o'clock this morning, and, after a 
horseback ride of over forty miles, reached 
New Berne by sundown. When he left, the 
army was on its way to New Berne. 

THE LATEST. 

New Berne, Dec. 20, 1862. 

During the progress of the late expedition 
we came upon large quantities of cotton and 
turpentine. Our advance was so peculiar 
and rapid that the rebels did not have time 
to burn it, although we occasionally found 
large quantities on fire. 

Our entire movement was greatly facili- 
tated by Captain Sleight, to whose energetic 
course of action was due the keeping of our 



48 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 

supply, etc., trains. General Foster highly 
complimented Captain Sleight for the ability 
with which he conducted his department. 

I forgot to mention in my account of the 
engagement at Goldsboro railroad bridge 
that the enemy, on finding that our troops 
were outtianking them by wading through a 
mill stream, hoisted the gate at the mill and 
let the water rush down with astonishing 
impetuosity. By this means one or two of 
our men were drowned, while others still 
pushed on, with the water up to their arm- 
pits, regardless of the difficulty. 

We learn by flag of truce, from the rebels 
at Kinston, that their (the rebels) loss is 
between eight and nine hundred, and that 
the two South Carolina regiments that 
charged Morrison's battery, lost in that 
charge about three hundred and fifty men ; 
their color bearer was shot .three times. 



Kinstoii^ Whitehall, Goldsboro. 49 

BRILLIANT CONDUCT OF THE UNION TROOPS. 

KiNSTON, N. C, Dec. lo, 1862. 

An important movement has long been 
on foot looking towards the capture of 
Goldsboro and Weldon, and the severance 
of one rebel railroad line of communication 
connecting the cotton states with the capital 
of the so-called confederacy; Preparations 
have for some time been carried to enable 
the force which was to engage in the attempt 
to push it to a successful issue. The time 
has now come when the object and the 
means of execution of this movement may 
be safely revealed. The object of the expe- 
dition was to capture Kinston, and then to 
take Goldsboro, thereby cutting the Wil- 
mington and Weldon railroad, which would 
isolate Wilmington and effectually cut off 
its supplies and. reinforcements. That, I 
believe, was the object of the expedition. 
The first portion of the work has been 
accomplished — the capture of Kinston ; and 



50 Kiaston, Whitehall, Golchboro. 

the other portion is in a fair way of 
being carried successfully out to the letter. 

The forces under General Poster left New 
Berne on Thursday, the 11th, and moved up 
the Trent road, along the Trent Kiver, about 
ten miles, when the division halted for the 
night. On Friday the march was resumed 
at sunrise, the Mnth New Jersey having the 
extreme advance, followed by Wessell's 
brigade, one of General Peck's brigade, 
recently sent from Suffolk, with Company 
B, Third New York Artillery, Captain Mor- 
rison. Then followed the brigade of Acting 
Brigadier-General Amory consisting of four 
Massachusetts regiments. 

Acting Brigadier- General Lee's brigade 
of Massachusetts regiments came next, 
Colonel Stevenson's brigade, also of Massa- 
chusetts regiments, brought up the rear with 
four regiments. Acting Brigadier-General 
Ledlie, of the Third New York Artillery, 
had command of the artillery, consisting of 
the Third New York Artillery and Belger's 



Kinston, Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 51 

battery, First Rhode Island Artillery. Col- 
onel Mix's Third New York Cavalry, Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Mix in command, were em- 
ployed as scouts on the advance and on the 
sides of the line of march, and as provost- 
guards to protect houses along the road. 

On Friday night the column halted within 
eleven miles of Kinston, and encamped in 
line of battle, no fires being allowed and all 
unusual noises prohibited. The troops did 
not get into camp until 9 o'clock. Skir- 
mishing continued all day between cavalry 
of the rebels and Mix's cavalry, in which we 
lost two men prisoners and one wounded. 
We captured fifteen or sixteen of the rebel 
cavalry, and killed and wounded several. 

On Saturday morning at 7 o'clock tlie line 
of march was resumed towards Kinston at a 
slow pace, as the enemy were beginning to 
appear in some force in front, to a point 
where the Whitehall, and main Kinston 
roads unite,about seven miles from Kinston. 
This point was reached at about II o'clock 



52 Klnston. Whitehall. Goldshoro. 



on Saturday morning, and then it was that 
it was expected that the rebels would offer 
battle, as it was a strong position. Oar 
troops were formed in line of battle in an 
open field on the left of the road which ran 
to Whitehall, in front of a wood, which it 
was supposed covered the enemy's main 
force. A small creek ran across the road 
500 yards to the right and in front of our 
line of battle, over which was a bridge, 
which the rebels had destroyed, and out of 
the debris of which they had erected a breast- 
work and planted two six-pounders, rifled, 
sweeping the road. Morrison's battery was 
put forward to the right of the road, and 
taking a position on a small hill 250 yards 
from the rebel battery, opened fire. The 
enemy hotly replied with grape and canister, 
sweeping the road, but doing no damage. 
Morrison continued to shell the battery and 
the woods on either side for nearly an hour, 
when the enemy began to retire. Just as 
the enemy were about retiring, the Ninth 



Kinston, W/iiiehall, Goldsboro. 53 

New Jersey were deployed as skirmishers to 
the left of the road, and advancing under 
fire, they crossed the creek on a mill da.m, 
flanked the rebel battery, and, taking it by 
storm, captured a rifled six-pounder and 
several prisoners. The rebels retreated has- 
tily and succeeded in saving the other six- 
pounder, but left six killed and wounded. 
Three hours were consumed in the recon- 
struction of the bridge. When completed 
the infantry and artillery crossed and 
marched towards Kinston, about three and a 
half miles, and halted for the night, in line 
of battle, with strong pickets out. The 
enemy made but feeble resistance to the 
advance of our forces, Mix's cavalry driving 
them like chafl before them. The night 
passed quietly, a little affair between pick- 
ets, without result, breaking the monotony 
of the night. 

On Sunday morning, at daybreak. Mix's 
cavalry and Wessell's brigade began to ad- 
vance, feeling their way cautiously up the 



54 Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

road about two miles, when the enemy's 
pickets were met and driven back through 
a piece of woods about three-quarters of a 
mile, when they retired upon the main body 
of the enemy, six thousand strong, under 
command of Brigadier-General Evans, of 
Ball's Bluff notoriety. His forces con- 
sisted of three regiments of South Carolina 
infantry, the balance, of artillery, cavalry 
and infantry, was made up of North Caro- 
lina troops. Here our advance halted and 
the artillery was ordered to the front, and at 
10.30 the artillery opened on the enemy. 
The rebels were found to be drawn up in 
line of battle, on a ground partially wooded 
and covered with a dense underbrush, with 
their artillery in the center and on either 
Hank. They formed their line nearly in the 
shape of a triangle, with the base towards 
our forces. Our line was formed with the 
Ninth New Jersey on the right, Wessell's 
brigade in the center and left; Behind, in a 
second line, was the Twenty-third Massa- 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 55 

chusetts Regiment, on the right the Forty- 
fourth and Forty -fifth and other regiments 
of Amory's brigade, Stevenson's and Lee's 
brigades being held in reserve. Our artil- 
lery was placed in position on the right, 
centre and left of the line. The battle was 
begun by the artillery at 10.30, and contin- 
ued uninterruptedly until about 1.30 o'clock, 
when the enemy commenced to retreat. But 
a short time elapsed after the artillery duel 
had begun before the infantry got to work 
in earnest, and the musketry became very 
rapid and hot. The fight was quite lively 
until 1 o'clock, but not at very close quar- 
ters, when the rebels began to fall back, and 
the Ninth New Jersey were thrown out as 
skirmishers, and Wessell's brigade pushed 
forward in pursuit. Our batteries were then 
thrown around to the right of the road, and 
fired upon the retreating rebels, but with 
little effect. The enemy fell back hastily 
nearly a mile, and crossed the bridge leading 
into Kinston, the Ninth New Jersey follow- 



56 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

ing closely in pursuit. As the last rebel regi- 
ment crossed the bridge the rebels applied 
the match to it, and as it had been prepared 
for the purpose, the lire gained some head- 
way; but the Ninth New Jersey came up in 
time to extinguish the lire soon before it had 
done much damage. 

After crossing the bridge one rebel brigade 
retreated in the direction of Goldsboro and 
the other in the direction of Snow Hill, on 
the road to Weldon. G-eneral Evans, with 
his South Carolina troops, retreated towards 
Goldsboro, our artillery throwing shells on 
the retreating columns. 

Our division immediately crossed the 
bridge and occupied Kinston, the rebels on 
their retreat burning a quantity of cotton, a 
locomotive and some cars. Our troops held 
the town until yesterday morning, when they 
left the town and moved forward in a north- 
erly direction, after burning the bridge over 
the Neuse River. We captured on the bat- 
tle field four hundred prisoners, eleven 



Ki)tston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 57 

pieces of artillery on this side of the bridge 
and three on the other, making four tee q guns 
in all, taken from them. A large number of 
small arms, perhaps eight hundred, were 
taken. Our loss was one hundred and sixty, 
killed and wounded. That of the enemy 
about one hundred and twenty-five, as they 
were more protected. The only ofR^jers killed 
on our side were Colonel Gray, of the Ninety- 
sixth New York Volunteers; Captain Wells 
and Lieutenant Perkins, of the Tenth Con- 
necticut; we captured a lieutenant-colonel of 
a South Carolina regiment, and several other 
officers. The Twenty-third Massachusetts, 
Major Chambers commanding, captured 
seventy officers and men of the Twenty-third 
South Carolina Regiment. The mudsills 
are a little ahead of the chivalry this time. 
Our forces are now on the march, and I 
halt behind to send off this report. You 
will hear from me again by the first convey- 
ance. Our troops are in excellent spirits 
and eager to push forward and reap the 



58 Kiiiston^ Whitehall, Golchhoro. 

fruits of our victory. You may rest assured 
that General Foster will follow up his advan- 
tage to a successful issue. I forgot to men- 
tion that Company K, Mix's Third New 
York Cavalry, charged and captured three 
pieces of artillery, with caissons, horses and 
all, in the most gallant manner. 

SCENE OF THE DEATH OF COLONEL 
GRAY. 

New Berne, N. C, Dec. 16, 1862. 

Colonel Boler of the Forty-sixth Mas- 
sachusetts, has returned from General Fos- 
ter's expedition, and reports the successful 
capture of the town of Kinston by the Union 
troops, and their advance towards Golds - 
boro, the junction of the Atlantic and North 
Carolina and the Wilmington and Weldon 
railroads. 

There was some fighting for three days — 
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, last — the 
enemy disputing our advance with pertina- 
city wherever the ground favored them. They 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 59 

-are reported to have had a force of 15,000 
under command of Gfeneral Evans, of Ball's 
Bluff fame. Their loss is heavy in killed, 
wounded and prisoners, five hundred of the 
latter having fallen into our hands. Our 
loss is one hundred and fifty to two hundred 
and fifty in killed, wounded and missing. 

The principal fight was a few miles beyond 
Kinston, where the enemy had intrenched 
themselves. The Third New York Cavalry, 
Colonel Mix's, had a hand to hand conflict 
with the Second North Carolina Cavalry. 
The New Yorkers routed the North Caroli- 
nians after a hard fight. All the Union 
troops are reported to have behaved well, 
exhibiting in many instances great courage 
and fearlessness. 

Our wounded were placed in unoccupied 
houses in Kinston and the dead buried. 

The advance continues toward Groldsboro; 
but before reaching that point we shall have 
to encounter further and still stronger oppo- 
sition. With the large and well disciplined 



60 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

forces of Geuerals Foster and Wessell, every 
obstruction will be overcome, and the object 
sought attained. 

Twelve miles beyond Kinston, at a place 
called Mosely Hall, the enemy have a battery 
of ten heavy guns, so planted as to deal a 
very destructive fire upon an advancing foe. 

In the attack upon Lieutenant -Colonel 
Manchester's transports in the Neuse River 
the rebels suffered severely as reported by a 
deserter this morning. The shells from the 
Allison fell directly in the midst of the bat- 
tery, killing and wounding several, and, for 
a time, dispersing the working force of the 
battery, together with an infantry reserve of 
some two hundred men, with two regiments 
at hand. 

The Ocean Wave was tired upon from an 
open field by a force of one hundred and ten 
North Carolina rebel troops, commanded by 
Captain Whitfield. 

The first brush with the enemy commenced 
about 8 o'clock on Friday morning. 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 



about twenty miles from New Berne, on the 
main road to Kinston, a little to the right of 
Winton when Company B, Captain Marshall, 
Third New York Artillery, encountered 
them. 

The enemy's force consisted of one company 
of cavalry and four companies of infantry, 
of Major Nethercote's North Carolina bat- 
talion. After a brief skirmish we dispersed 
the rebels, killing two, wounded and missing 
amounting to fifty. Our loss was two 
wounded and four missing. The advance 
then moved on, after crossing a bridge, 
partly destroyed, over a creek, and being- 
delayed an hour in fixing the same. Captain 
N. encamped the same night within nine 
miles of Kinston. 

On Saturday morning Company K, Cap- 
tain Cole, Third New York Cavalry, took 
the advance, and while moving forward 
captured two prisoners, belonging to Neth- 
ercote' s battalion, who gave some valuable 
information, proceeded thence to South- 



62 Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

west creek, about fiYQ miles from Kinston. 
On Captain Cole's approach, the enemy 
were found engaged in endeavoring to des- 
troy the bridge over the creeJi. Captain 
Cole dismounted a platoon, who fired a volley 
upon the enemy while they were at work. 
The enemy then retreated, but soon after 
fired from a battery of two six-pounders, 
howitzers, upon our advance, wounding one 
man — a private, named John Costello — who 
was shot through the head. 

Colonel Heckmann, of the Ninth New 
Jersey (the advance guard of the infantry), 
here came forward and ordered the Ninth to 
deploy as skirmishers. This order was 
quickly executed, and had the effect of 
partly dispersing the enemy; and Schenck's 
Third New York battery coming up, fired 
about a dozen shells, driving the enemy 
entirely away. On the Ninth New Jersey 
crossing the bridge, four of the enemy were 
found dead, the wounded being carried on 
with the retreating enemy. The Ninth sue- 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 63 

ceeded in capturing one of their howitzers, 
which was brought into New Berne this 
morning. 

As soon as Captain Cole had crossed the 
bridge, following the New Jersey Ninth, he 
was ordered forward by Colonel Heckmann, 
and his company directed to act as scouts to 
find the position of the enemy. They had 
proceeded about eighty or one hundred rods 
beyond the pickets of the Ninth when the 
advance guard of Company K was fired upon 
by a concealed body of the enemy, and 
Private Chapman wounded in the thigh. 
Captain Cole then halted, and Colonel Heck- 
mann ordered a part of the Ninth New 
Jersey forward to skirmish through the 
woods. The enemy were found in the edge 
of the woods when a lively fire commenced 
between our skirmishers and the foe. The 
entire Ninth was then ordered forward, and 
the rebels commenced firing sharply from a 
battery of three howitzers, with grape and 
canister. A section of two pieces of Sc henck' s 



64 Kinstoa^ Whitehall^ Goldshoro. 

battery was now ordered up, and returned 
the enemy's grape and canister witli twelve- 
pound shells. The gallant Jersey men kept 
advancing steadily upon the enemy, com- 
mitting great havoc in their ranks by their 
unerring aim, until finally the rebels were 
driven from the woods, and obliged to fall 
back about half a mile to an open field, 
skirted by woods. The fight ended about 
dark, when our advance guard encamped 
upon the scene of battle. It is a singular 
fact, notwithstanding the conspicuous part 
taken and gallantry displayed in. this skir- 
mish by the Mnth New Jersey in their 
advancing movements, but one man was 
wounded in the whole regiment. But they 
suffered subsequently. The number of the 
enemy killed and wounded" is unknown, but 
supposed to be heavy. 

The advance laid upon the field all night 
without molestation. On the following 
morning (Sunday), about 7.30, the first gun 
was fired upon the enem}^ by one of Cap- 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldshoro. ()b 

tain Cole's pickets, and the report spread 
that the rebels were approaching in force. 
Colonel Heckmann had the brigade of which 
he is acting-commander immediately drawn 
up in line of battle, with the intrepid Ninth 
still in the advance. After waiting about 
half an hour, and finding the enemy did not 
approach, the Ninth was ordered forward, 
with skirmishers to the right and left, the 
main body being in the Kinston road. They 
were then within about three miles from 
Kinston, and while moving were occasionally 
saluted with a shot from the enemy's skir- 
mishers. In a short time the firing 
became more general, and as the Jerseymen 
went on, closely followed by the brave boys 
of Company K of the Third New York 
Cavalry, they returned the fire briskly. 
After reaching a point bordering on a piece 
of woods, the rebels commenced firing ar til- 
ler}^, nearly raking the road on which our 
troops were advancing. They then fired to 
the right and left, to prevent a flank move- 



66 Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

ment, which was attempted by Colonel 
Heckmann. The fight began now in earnest, 
and as our infantry and artillery were 
ordered up, regiment by regiment. General 
Wessell rode forward, immediately followed 
by General Foster ; and while the fighting 
in front was going on, the manoeuvering of 
our forces so as to outflank the enemy was 
begun. General Foster ordered Colonel 
Heckmann to take his brigade to the right, 
by the river road, and attack the enemy on 
their left flank ; the artillery, consisting of 
the Third New York Artillery, Belger's 
Rhode Island battery, Schenck's battery, 
and two or three others, closely following 
the infantry. After getting into position a 
terrible fire was opened upon the enemy 
from the front and flank. This was with- 
stood with great fortitude and bravery by 
the enemy for about four hours, when a 
dashing charge, made by several of our 
regiments, caused the rebels to break and 
retreat in confusion across the bridge, over 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 67 

the Neuse, clear to and through the village 
of Kinston and beyond. Some places they 
crossed in their flight up the river, to the 
left, the water was so deep that it reached 
the bellies of our cavalry horses while in 
pursuit. The Neuse River bridge had been 
saturated with turpentine in places, and as 
the enemy retired in their great haste they 
imperfectly set fire to it ; but the fire was 
easily extinguished by the aid of the artil- 
lery buckets, used for watering the horses. 
It was here we met our saddest loss, almost, 
as it were, by accident. Colonel Gray of the 
N in ty -sixth New York Was at work with 
his regiment, endeavoring to put out the 
fire, when a loaded musket, thrown away 
by a flying rebel, caught fire and exploded, 
the charge entering the body of the Colonel, 
and inflicting a wound which caused instant 
death. His body was brought to New Berne 
by Company K, and will be sent to New 
York. 

The bridge was soon in condition to permit 



68 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

the infantry to cross with perfect safety, our 
artillery having in the meantime opened from 
the bridge upon the enemy, who had been 
rallied and was again formed in line of battle 
about a mile beyond the village of Kinston. 
The enemy made no reply but with artillery, 
but fell back behind a high hill out of sight. 
About 2 p. m. General Foster ordered troops 
to enter the town, when it was occupied, 
and three brigades sent about two miles 
beyond. Seven or eight houses were burned 
in Kinston, some say by accident and some 
by design, after our men got in. The rebels 
burned a great amount of corn and cotton 
before leaving the place. The Ninth New 
Jersey, taking the advance again, forced the 
rebels from behind the hill where they had 
made a stand, to a point about three miles 
from Kinston, when the troops encamped 
for the night (Sunday). 

After reaching the town. Captain Cole of 
Company K, Third New York Cavalry, was 
ordered to proceed down the river to the 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 69 

blockade, and where, a battery had been 
erected to play upon our gunboats if they 
attempted to ascend the river. Captain 
Cole, on arriving at the place — a sort of half 
circular fort, with breastworks a mile and a 
half long — ascertained from a negro that the 
rebels had moved six brass pieces about six 
hours before he reached there ; that they had 
more guns there, and that a guard had been 
left to protect them until they could be 
secured, the rebels not having enough horses 
to get them all away. Captain Cole attempted 
to surround the fort and capture what there 
was remaining in it, when the guard dis- 
covered his force and decamped for the 
woods without firing a shot. Company K 
charged on the fort and took possession 
thereof, capturing everything in it. The 
armament remaining was found to consist of 
seven guns, including one eight-inch colum- 
biad, two thirty-two-pounder iron guns, and 
four six-pounder iron guns. The four latter 
were found to be loaded, primed and ready to 



'70 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 

be fired; but the brisk movements of Captain 
Cole and his daring company prevented the 
execution of the latter deadly operation. 
Company K and its commander have been 
highly complimented by the commanding 
General for their gallantry on this occasion. 
A small amount of provisions, clothing, etc., 
w^as found in the fort, which was left. The 
four six-pounders were brought away; the 
columbiad and the thirty-twos, being too 
heavy to be removed, were spiked and the 
carriages burned. Captain Cole reached 
Kinston about midnight with the trophies. 
The next morning about 5 o'clock he received 
orders from General Poster to return to 
New Berne with seven pieces — two brass and 
five iron — captured with other trophies. The 
two brass pieces were the same captured 
from us at Little Washington about three 
months ago. Captain Cole also brings the 
remains of Colonel Gray, of the Ninety-sixth 
New York, killed on Neuse bridge. On his 
way down Captain Cole captured eight rebels 



Ivhtston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 71 

and brought them into New Berne. Three 
belonged to South Carolina and four to 
Georgia. 

The New Jersey Ninth captured the regi- 
mental flag of a South Carolina regiment 
before crossing the Neuse bridge, and carry 
it as a trophy of their gallantry. 

Most of the 500 rebels captured and pa- 
roled by General Foster belonged to South 
Carolina and Georgia. 

The conduct of the Tenth Connecticut 
Regiment is spoken of in the highest terms. 
They, with the New Jersey Ninth, were 
particularly distinguished for their bravery, 
and suffered the most. 

THE GUNBOATS IN THE BATTLE. 

[Our New Berne Correspondence.] 

New Berne, N. C, Dec. 16, 1862. 

An expedition, consisting of the gunboats 

Delaware, Seymour and Shawsheen, of the 

navy, under the command of Commander 

Murray, United States Navy, and the steam- 



72 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

boats Ocean Wave, Allison, North State, 
Port Eoyal, and Wilson, manned by the 
Marine Artillery and commanded by Colonel 
Manchester, left this point on Thursday 
last, the 11th inst., to proceed up the Neuse 
River to co-operate with the land forces under 
General Foster in his advance toward Kins- 
ton, or more properly to effect a diversion in 
General Foster's favor. Owing to lack of 
water the gunboats were unable to go up the 
river more than fifteen or eighteen miles, and 
were compelled to stop and allow the affair 
to be carried on by the Marine Artillery 
flotilla alone. Colonel Manchester assumed 
command of the expedition from that point, 
and resolutely pushed up toward Kinston, 
determined to reach the village and partici- 
pate in its capture. The low state of the 
water alone prevented Commander Murray 
from carrying his heavy gunboats to the 
town. 

Colonel Manchester met but little resist- 
ance going up, a few scattering shots being 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 73 

fired at him by guerillas on the banks. He 
experienced much difficulty, however, in 
getting ahead rapidly, because of the bars 
and shoals, upon which the boats grounded. 
But all obstacles being overcome, they 
reached a point within two miles of Kinston 
on Saturday afternoon, when they suddenly 
found themselves under the lire of an eleven 
gun battery, which opened on the Allison, 
the leading boat, as she rounded a point of 
land and appeared full in view of the ene- 
my's formidable work, and not over 1,200 
yards distant. The river was here only 
about one hundred feet in width, with 
shoals on either side of the channel, and it 
was found to be utterly impossible to turn 
the boat. To back out of the scrape was 
the only resort, and as soon as that could be 
effected it was done ; -but not until the Alli- 
son had been twenty minutes under an 
exceedingly hot fire, in which she was 
repeatedly struck by shell and shot. She 
returned the fire from her thirty- pounder 



14 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldshoro. 

Parrott gun forward, and occasioned the 
rebels considerable loss. The Allison was 
seriously damaged in the fray. The top of 
her pilot house was torn off, her smoke stack 
pierced by a shell, and her steam safety pipe 
cut away. It was a miracle she was not 
sunk. Finally extricating herself from her 
perilous position, also backed around the 
point of land and came to anchor with the 
rest of the flotilla, screened from the rebel 
battery b}^ woods, but in short range. There 
they laid all night, prepared at any moment 
to repel any attempt on the part of the 
enemy to capture them by boarding. Sev- 
eral times during the night they fired upon 
the rebel reconnoitering parties, who became 
very bold in their advances. 

All night long our men could hear 
the rattle of trains over the railroad, evi- 
dently conveying reinforcements to Kinston, 
against which General Foster had steadily 
pushed his advance, fighting for every inch 
of ground. The blows of axes, as the rebels 



Kinston. Whitehall, Goldsboro 



felled trees to block up the avenues of 
approach to the town, the calls of soldiers, 
barking of dogs, and other sounds, were 
heard all the night long proceeding from the 
wooded shore. But no serious attempt was 
made to capture the boats, which might 
have been successful if well planned. On 
Sunday morning the boats turned, and des- 
cended the stream, as the water in the river 
had fallen nearly fifteen inches during the 
night, and promised to leave them high and 
dry, prizes to the rebels, if they much longer 
delayed their return. On their way down 
they were fired upon from the shores by 
guerrillas, who followed them a distance of 
twenty miles, killing one of our men (Ed- 
ward J. Perkins, Company H, Marine Artil- 
lery), and wounding three others, none very 
seriously. The Ocean Wave, and, indeed, 
all the boats, were more or less injured by 
musketry and field pieces. Bullets were 
found on the Ocean Wave dipped in verdi- 
gris, to poison the wounds they inflicted. 



76 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

and others had copper wire attached, for the 
same purpose. The rebels evidently have 
been taking some new lessons in warfare 
from the Sepoys or Chinese ; They are apt 
pupils. It would also appear that about 
160 of these guerrillas were the attacking 
party, and thirty of them were killed and 
wounded before they relinquished the idea 
of taking the boats, as we have since 
learned. The attempt to pen in the boats, 
by felling trees across the river, was 
thwarted by the rapid movements of the 
boats. 

On our return the Ocean Wave was un- 
fortunate enough to stave a hole in her 
bottom by running on a stump, and sunk in 
three feet of water. She can be raised with 
but little trouble. Her guns have been taken 
off, as well as the crew, coal, provisions, etc., 
and she will soon be afloat. What effect 
this had on Gen. Foster's fortunes has not 
yet been ascertained. It probably prevented 
some rebel troops from meeting his forces. 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 77 

If the river had been up, the flotilla would 
have been of great service in aiding in the 
capture of Kinston ; but lack of water pre- 
vented it. Colonel Manchester and the 
officers and men of the Marine Artillery 
have earned a still higher reputation for their 
gallantry and indomitable perseverance on 
this expedition. They are a valuable arm of 
the service, and merit better treatment than 
they have received from the authorities. It 
seems about time to recognize them as a 
corps, now that they are performing all 
duties contemplated in their organization. 
Justice ought to be done them. 

Commander Murray is displaying an im- 
mense deal of energy in conducting naval 
operations in North Carolina waters, and is 
greatly aiding General Foster in his opera- 
tions. 

LOSSES IN THE THREE BATTLES: 

Those of Kinston, Whitehall and the Golds- 
boro Bridge consolidated. 



78 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

Ninth New Jersey, Col. C. A. Heckmann, 
2 killed, 32 wounded, 2 missing. Battle of 
Whitehall, 44 wounded. Battle of Golds- 
boro, 11 wounded. 

Fifth Rhode Island, Capt. J. B. Arnold, 
1 killed, 4 wounded. 

Third New York Artillery, Capt J. J. 
Morrison, Battery B, 2 wounded. Capt- 
E. S. Jenney, Battery F, 2 wounded. 

Twenty-fourth New York Independent 
Battery, 1 killed. 

General Wessell's Brigade — Eighty-fifth 
New York, 3 wounded. Ninety-sixth New 
York, Col. Charles O. Gray, 1 killed, 6 
wounded. Twenty-second New York, 2 
killed, 16 wounded. 

One Hundred and First Pennsylvania did 
not lose any in killed or wounded. 

Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania, 9 wounded. 

One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania. 
When this regiment went into action it had 
about 450 men, and after the action it was 
found that it had 14 killed and 58 wounded. 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 79 

Casualties in Second Brigade, First Divis- 
ion, Department of North Carolina, Col. 
Thos. G. Stevenson commanding, at Kinston, 
Whitehall, Everettville, December 14, 16 
and 17, 1862 : 

Tenth Connecticut Volunteers, Lieut. -Col. 
Robert Leggett commanding, 11 killed, 86 
wounded, of whom 10 have since died 

Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, 
Major Robert H. Stevenson commanding, 1 
killed, 7 wounded. 

Forty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, Col. Francis S. Lee commanding, 8 
killed, 13 wounded. 

Fifth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, 
Capt. Job Arnold commanding, 1 killed, 3 
wounded. 

Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island 
State Artillery, Capt, James Belger, 1 killed, 
8 wounded; 10 horses killed and wounded. 

Report of the casualties in the Third (Col. 



80 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

H. C. Lee's) Brigade. The expedition to 
Goldsboro : 

Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. Geo. 
H. Pierson, 7 wounded. 

Third Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. Silas 
P. Richmond, 2 wounded. 

Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment, 
Col H. C. Lee, 3 wounded. 

Forty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, Col. 
George Bowler, 2 killed, 3 wounded. 

List of killed and wounded in the First 
Brigade, first division, commanded by Col- 
onel Amory: 

Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers, 1 
killed, 29 wounded. 

Forty-fifth Massachusetts, Col. Chas. R. 
Codman, 6 killed, 38 wounded. 

Twenty-third Massachusetts, 14 killed, 52 
wounded. 

Fifty-first Massachusetts, Col. Abram B. 
R. Sprague, 2 wounded. 

Forty-third Massachusetts, Col. Chas. L. 
Holbrook, 2 killed, 1 wounded. 



Kinston, Whiiehall^ Golchhoro. 81 

Artillery Brigade, Col. J. H. Ledlie, com- 
manding, 2 staff wounded. 

Battery B, Capt. James J. Morrison, 4 
wounded. 

Battery F, Capt. E. S. Jenney, 8 wounded. 

Battery E, Lieut. G. E. Ashby, command- 
ing, 3 wounded. 

Battery I, Lieut. George W. Thomas, com- 
manding, 1 killed. 

Battery K, Capt. James K. Angel, 2 
killed, 5 wounded. 

Twenty-fourth Battery, Capt. J. E. Lee, 
1 killed. 

Casualties in Third New York Cavalry: 
Company A, Capt. W. S. Joy, 3 wounded; 
7 horses killed. 

Company B, Capt. John F. Marshall, 7 
wounded; 10 horses killed. 

Company E, Capt. F. Jacobs, Jr., 2 
wounded. 

Company K, Capt Geo. W. Cole, 2 
wounded. 

It is impossible to send the list of the 
missing, which may turn up in a day or two. 



[New York Times, Sept. 3, 1874.] 

MAJOR-GEN. JOHN G. FOSTER. 



The death of this distinguished soldier and mil- 
itary engineer is announced . He died at his moth- 
er's residence at Nashua, N. H., at 1 o'clock yester- 
day morning, in the fifty -first year of his age. 
He graduated at West Point, July 1, 1846, being 
in the same class with Generals George B. McClel- 
lan and Stonewall Jackson, He served in the war 
with Mexico, 1847-48, attached to the Company of 
Sappers, Miners, and Pontoniers, and was engaged 
in the siege of Vera Cruz, battle of Cerro Gordo, 
and battles of Contreras and Churubusco, in 
which he distinguished himself. On the 20th of 
August, 1847, he was promoted Brevet First Lieu- 
tenant. He was severely wounded on the 8th of 
September, 1847, while leading the forlorn hope 
at the capture of Molino del Rey. For his gal- 
lant conduct on this occasion he was promoted 
Brevet Captain, and was placed, with full pay, 
for more than two years on the sick list of the 
army. When convalescent, he joined Gen. R. E. 
Lee at Baltimore as Assistant Engineer, and 



K'ln.ston^ WhitehalL Goldsboro. 83 



afterwards Avas on the Coast Survey. He was 
Assistant Professor of Engineering at West Point 
from January, 1855, to June, 1857, and Superin- 
tending Engineer of the survey of the site of the 
fort at Willett's Point, Long Island; of the 
preliminary operations for building a fort at 
Sandy Hook, N. J.; of building Fort Sumter, and 
repairs of Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, 
South Carolina, from 1858 to 1861. On the 1st of 
July, 1860, he was promoted Captain, Corps of 
Engineers, for fourteen years' continuous service. 
During the rebellion of the seceding States he was 
Chief Engineer of the fortifications of Charleston 
Harbor, South Carolina. He was also engaged in 
defense of Fort Sumter from 2'7th of December, 
1860, to April 14, 1861, when it was surrendered 
and evacuated. For the distinguished part taken 
by him in the transfer of the garrison of Fort 
Moultrie to Fort Sumter he, was, on the 20th 
December, 1860, promoted Brevet Major. Soon 
after the surrender of Fort Sumter he was given 
the command of a brigade, as second to General 
Burnside on the North Carolina -expedition, in 
which he again distinguished himself. He took 
by storm the central fortification on the Island of 
Roanoke, which soon led to the entire possession 
of the island. For these services he was promoted 
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on the 8tli February, 



84 Jvinstou, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

1862, and Brevet-Colonel on the 1 2 tli March, 1862, 
for gallant and meritorious services in the capture 
of New Berne, N. C. He was present at the 
bombardment of Fort Macon, which capitulated 
26th April, 1862, and on Jul}- 1, 1862, when Gen. 
Burnside was ordered to join Gen. McClellan, he 
was left in command of the division, and subse- 
quently of the whole department of Virginia and 
North Carolina, with his headquarters at Old 
Point Comfort. During this period he success- 
fully conducted the expedition to burn the Golds- 
boro Railroad Bridge, (December, 1862), was 
engaged in the action of Southwest Creek, Decem- 
ber 14, 1862; at the battle of Kinston the follow- 
ing day; two days afterward at the action of 
Whitehall, and on the 18th of December, 1862, at 
the action of Goldsboro Bridge. He repulsed the 
rebel attack on New Berne, March 14, 1863. At 
the time of the investment of Little Washington, 
on Tar River, he performed one of the most gal- 
lant deeds in the annals of the wai', by running in 
a small steamer past the rebel batteries command- 
ing the channel, for the purpose of hurrying for- 
ward reinforcements to relieve the little garrison- 
The daring act was not unobserved hj the rebels, 
who sent a solid shot through the stateroom of the 
General, but as he happened to be on deck, he es- 



Jfifistofiy Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 85 

caped harm, reached New Berne in safetj^, and 
accomplished his purpose. 

On December 12, 1863, he relieved General 
Burnside and took command of the Army and 
Department of the Ohio, which he retained up to 
February 9, 1864, when he was obliged to relin- 
quish the command in consequence of severe in- 
juries from the fall of his horse. He was obliged 
to be removed to Baltimore for surgical assistance, 
and while yet on his crutches, he was, on the 26th 
of May, 1864, placed in command of the Depart- 
ment of the South, and met and aided General 
Sherman when he completed his march to the sea. 
He was in command of this department up to Feb- 
ruary 11, 1865, when he was again relieved for 
surgical treatment. He was promoted Brevet 
Brigadier-General on March 13, 1865, for gallant 
and meritorious services in the capture of Savan- 
nah, Ga., and on the same day Brevet Major-Gen- 
eral for " meritorious services in the field during 
the Rebellion." He subsequently commanded the 
Department of Florida from August 7, 1865, to 
December 5, 1866, and was on temporary duty in 
the Engineer Bureau, Washington, from January 
to May, 1867. General Foster had been in ill- 
health for about a year, and his condition recently 
was such as to leave no hope of his recover}^ He 
was a man of commanding presence, great execu- 



86 Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 

tive ability, and undaunted courage, and was at 
all times very popular with those under his com- 
mand. The funeral will take place at 10 o'clock, 
a. m., Saturday, with military honors. It is ex- 
pected that a detachment of regulars from Fort 
Warren will attend the funeral. 

At a meeting of the citizens of Nashua last 
night, to make arrangements for the funeral of 
General Foster on Saturday, a committee was 
appointed to co-operate with the Cit}^ Govern- 
ment. The public buildings will be draped and 
business suspended. Invitations were sent to 
President Grant, the Secretary of War, Ex- Gov- 
ernor Allen, of New Hampshire, and other distin- 
guished persons. , 



[New York Herald, Sept. 6, 1874.] 
OBSEQUIES OF GENERAL FOSTER. 



IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES AT NASHUA, N. H. 

Nashua, N. H. , Sept. 5, 1874. 

Since the obsequies of Major Ainsworth, a 
Nashua man who fell at the head of his command 
at Front Royal, there has not been so profound an 
expression of sorrow as that evinced in this city 
to-day, over the death and funeral rites of her 



Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 87 

honored citizen, patriot and gallant soldier of two 
wars, Major-General John G. Foster. The niorn- 
ing dawned foggy and heavy, but mellowed into 
autumnal splendor, while the populace seemed 
subdued in thought and mindful that one was 
being consigned to mother earth who had per- 
formed his duty to his country wisely and well. 
The mills and workshops, stores and offices were 
closed, and the citizens and citizen-soldiers of 
Nashua and vicinity vied with one another in pay- 
ing the last sad tribute of respect to a son of New 
Hampshire who has honored her on many fields of 
carnage, and whose name is a household word 
with her children. 

At 8 o'clock a requiem mass was held at the 
Church of the Immaculate Conception by Rev. 
John O'Donnell, and at the same hour a detail of 
ten men from Post John G. Foster, under com- 
mand of Colonel George Bowers, took charge of 
the remains at the residence of his mother on 
Orange square, where the body laid in state two 
hours. Lighted candles were burning at the head 
and feet, according to the custom of the Catholic 
Church. 

The body w^as encased in a heavy rosewood 
casket, upon which lay the sword, sash and belt 
of the deceased soldier. On the inner side of the 
lid, which was turned back, was a large floral 



88 Kinston^ Whitehall, Goldshoro. 

wreath about a heavy silver coffin plate, upon 
which were handsomely engraved emblems of the 
army and the following inscription: — "John Gray 
Foster, Lieutenant-Colonel Engineers, Brevet 
Major-General United States Army, died Septem- 
ber 2, 1874, aged 51 3?-ears." Hundreds of citizens, 
women and children viewed the remains, and 
hundreds more, owing to the crowd, were unable 
to look upon the face of the dead, which, although 
emaciated by disease, bore the soldierly impress 
it was wont to bear in life. The arrangements at 
the house were under the direction of Captain 
Solomon Spalding. 

The city flags were at half-mast, minute guns 
Avere fired from 10 until 12 o'clock, and all the 
bells in the city were tolled. The cortege received 
the remains at his mother's residence and pro- 
ceeded to the Church of the Immaculate Concep- 
tion, the nave of which was heavily draped in 
mourning, via. Orange, Concord, Main, East Pearl 
and Temple streets, where the body was placed in 
front of the altar, and the funeral service of the 
Catholic Church was performed by the Right 
Rev. Bishop Lynch, of South Carolina. The fu- 
neral oration was delivered by Rev. Robert 
Fulton, S. J., and President of the Boston Col- 
lege, connected with the Church of the Immacu- 



Kinsto7i, Whitehall, Goldsboro. 89 

late Conception, of which the deceased soldier 
was a member. 

The singing, which was grand and appropriate, 
was by the choir of the Church of St. Aloysius, 
assisted by General Michael T. Donahue and 
others, from Boston, and John McEvoy, of Lowell. 

At the close of the exercises in the church the 
procession was re-formed, when it proceeded 
through Amory street to Canal street, up Canal 
street to the Nashua Cemetery, in the rear of the 
Unitarian church, where the remains of the gal- 
lant dead were interred with those of his kindred, 
and the grave blessed by Rev. Father O'Donnell. 



90 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 

The following regiments participated in 
these battles : 

Third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer 
Militia, Col. S. P. Richmond. 

Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer 
Militia, Col. Geo. H. Pierson. 

"^Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Volun- 
teer Militia, Col. F. J. Coffin. 

Seventeenth Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteer Infantry, Col. T. J. C. Amory. 

Twenty-third Regiment Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry, Major J. G. Chambers. 

Twenty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry, Col. T. G. Stevenson. 

Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteer Infantry, Col. Josiah Picket. 

Twenty-seventh Regiment Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry, Col. H. C. Lee. 

Forty-third Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteer Militia, Col. Chas. L. Holbrook. 

*Eif;hth Massachusetts Regiment garrison New Berne 
while the other troops were away. 



Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldsboro. 91 

Forty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteer Militia, Col. Francis S. Lee. 

Forty -fifth Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteer Militia, Col. Chas. R.. Codman. 

Forty-sixth Regiment Massachusetts Vol- 
unteer Militia, Col. Geo. Bowler. 

Fifty-first Regiment Massachusetts Volun- 
teer Militia, Col. A. B. R. Sprague. 

Battery F, First Regiment Rhode Island, 
Capt. James Belger. 

Fifth Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers, 
Capt Job Arnold. 

Third Regiment Cavalry, New York State 
Volunteers, Col. S. H. Mix. Company A, 
Capt. Walter S. Joy; Company B, Capt. 
John F. Marshall ; Company E, Capt. Fer- 
rish Jacobs, Jr. ; Company K, Capt. Gfeorge 
W. Cole. 

Third New York Artillery, State Volun- 
teers, Col. J. H. Ledlie. Battery B, Capt. 
Joseph J. Morrison; Battery C, Lieut. G. E. 
Ashby; Battery F, Capt. E. S. Jenney ; 



92 Kinston^ Whitehall^ Goldshoro. 

Battery I, Capt. John H. Ammon ; Battery 
K, Capt. James R. Angel. 

Twenty-second New York Infantry, State 
Volunteers, Col. Walter Phelps, Jr. 

Eighty-fifth New York Infantry, State 
Volunteers, Col J. S. Belknap. 

Ninety -sixth New York Infantry, State 
Volunteers, Col. Chas. O. Gray. 

Tenth Connecticut Volunteers, Col. E. D. 
S. Goodyear. 

Twenty-fourth Independent Battery, New 
York State Volunteers, Capt. T. E. Lee. 

Ninth Regiment New Jersey Infantry, 
Col. C. A. Heckmann. 

Eighty-fifth Regiment Pennsylvania. 

One Hundred and First Regiment Penn- 
sylvania. 

One Hundred and Third Regiment Penn- 
sylvania, 



INDEX. 



Ains worth, Major 

Allen, Ex-Gov. . 

Allison 

Allis' Flying Artillery 

Ammon, Captain John H. 

Ammon's Battery 

Amory, Colonel Thomas J. C. 

Amory's Brigade 

Angel, Captain James R. 

Angel's Battery 

Ashby, Lieut. G. E. . 

Arnold, Job Col. B. . 

Atlantic and North Carolina R. R. 

Ball's Bluff 

Baltimore, Md. . 

Belger's Battery F, First Rhode Island Artil'y 

39, 51, 66, 79, 90 
Belger, Captain James, ... 44, 79 

Belknap, Col. J. L 91 

Black Pioneer Brigade . . . . 12 

Boston, Mass 89 

Boston College 88 

Bowler, Col. George . . . . 80, 91 



86 

86 

60, 72, 73 

17, 32,42 

44, 91 

44 

. 80, 90 

50, 55, 80 

81, 91 

42 

81 

78, 79 

58 

54, 59 

85 



Index 



Bowers, Col, George . 






87 


Butler, Henry 




. 


26 


Butler, Aug. G. 


. 


. 


11 


Bradford, J. A. . . 




. 


22 


Burnside, Gen. A. E. 




. 


83 


Catholic Church 


. 




88, 89 


Cerro Gordo 


. 




82 


Chambers, Major John G. . 






57, 89 


Chapman, Franklin 


. 


. 


13 


Chapman, wounded 






63 


Charleston Harbor, S. C. 






83 


Cherebusco 






82 


Chinese , . . . 


. 




76 


Church of the Immaculate C 


Conception 




87, 89 


Church of St. Aloysius 


. 


. 


89 


Clifford . . . . 


. 


•. 


1 


Codman, Col. C. R. . 






80, 91 


Coffin, Col. F. T. 




. 


90 


Cole, Capt. Geo. W. 11, 13 


,21, 61,6^ 


2, 65, 


68, 69, 






70 


81, 91 


Company B, Third New Yo 


rk Cavalry 


T 10, 


61, 91 


Company K, Third New Yo 


rk Cavalr 


Y 10, 


13, 22, 




61, 65, e 


.8, 70 


80, 91 


Company K, Ninth New Je 


rsey 




63 


Company K, Ninety-sixth IS 


few York 


. 


67 


Confederate States 




. 


45 


Connecticut Tenth Infantry 


IH, 21,5 


7, 71, 


78, 92 


Contreras 






82 



Index. 



Ill 



11 



15, 



4, 15, 



Costello, John, wounded 

Day, Lieut. S. S. 

Department of Florida 

Department of the South . 

Dublin County, North Carolina 

Dudley Station, K C. 

Donahue, Gen. M. T. 

Eighth Massachusetts Infantry . 

Eighteenth South Carolina Regiment 

Eighty-fifth New York Infantry, 

Eighty-eighth New York Infantry 

Eighty -fifth Pennsylvania . 1 

Ellis, John W. . . . 

Evans, Maj.-Gen. N. S. IT, 19, 20,22, 

Evansville, N. C. 

Everett Station 41 

Fellows, Lieut.-Col. John F. ... 36 
Fifth Massachusetts Infantry , . 80, 90 

Fifty-first Massachusetts Infantry . 80, 91 

Fifth Rhode Island Infantry . . 79, 91 

Fitzsimmons, Major Chaa- . . . 41 

Florida, Department of .... 85 
Forty-sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer 

Infantry . . . . . 58, 80, 91 

Forty -third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer 

Militia Infantry ... 42, 80, 90 

Forty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer 

Militia Infantry . . . . 55, 79, 91 



, 62 
12 
85 
85 
45 
41 
89 

90, 91 
16 

78, 92 
91 
92 
46 

24, 54, 56, 59 
79 



IV 



Index. 



Forth-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer 
Militia Infantry . . 15, 16, 55, 80, 91 

Foster, Maj.-Gen, John G. 9, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30,34, 
37, 38, 42, 48, 50, 58, 60, 66, 68, 70, 71, 72, 74, 

76, 77, 82, 86, 87, 88 



Foster, Maj.-Gen. John G., Obsequies of . 


86 


Foster, Maj.-Gen. John G., Post 


87 


Franklin, KG 


39 


Franklin, Major .... 


18, 19 


Front Royal 


86 


Fulton, Rev. Robert . . . . .. 


88 


Garrard, Major Jeptha 1 7, 24, 28, 29, 3 1 


,41,42 


Georgia 


71 


Georgia, Savannah 


85 


Goldsboro 19, 22, 27, 32, 33, 40, 44, 49, 


56, 58, 




59, 77 


Goldsboro R. R. Bridge . . .48, 


77, 84 


Goldsboro and Wilmington R. R. 


32, 41 


Grant, President U. S 


86 


Gray, Col. Charles 0. . 20, 67, 70, 


78, 92 


Gray, Col. Chas. 0., Death of . 


57, 67 


Graham, Lieut. Geo. W 


38 


Gunboats : 




Delaware 


71 


Seymour 


71 


Shawsheen 


71 


Harper Bros 


5 


Harper's History of the Rebellion 


5 



Index. 



Heckraann, Col. C. A. 



Holbrook, Col. Chas. L. 
Hunt, Col. Lewis C. 
Jacobs, Jr., Capt. Ferris 
Jackson, Gen. Stonewall 
Jenney, Capt. E. S. 
Jerseymen 

Joy, Capt. Walter S. . 
Kennedy, Major T. D. 
Kingsley, Franklin 
Kinston, N. C. 9, 14, 18, 23, 24, 
53, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 

Ledlie, Col. J. H. 

Lee's Brigade 

Lee, Col. Francis S. 

Lee, Col. H. C. . 

Lee, Capt. O. E. 

Lee, Gen. R. E. . 

Leggett, Lieut-Col. 

Lemon, Wm. 

Little Washington, N. 

Lincoln, Abraham 

Lowell, Mass. 

Lynch, Rev. Bishop 

Macon, Fort, S. C. 

Manchester, Lieut.-Col. H. A. 



10, 13, 21, 37, 62, 63, 65, 
66, 78, 92 
13, 42, 80, 90 
21 
17,32,33,41,91 



15, 24, 78, 81, 91 

64 

81 

44 

11 

27, 46, 48, 49, 51, 

67, 68, 72, 73, 74, 

77,84 

21, 30, 50, 81, 91 

39, 50, 55 

79, 91 

80, 90 
92 
82 

79, 91 
38 

70, 84 
45 
89 
88 
84 
17, 60, 72, 77 



vi Index. 

Marine Artillery, New York . . 72, 75 V 7 

Marshall, Capt. James F. . . 10, 61, 81, 91 

Massachusetts 29, 30 

" Third Regiment Vol. M. 80, 90 

" Fifth Regiment Vol. M. 80, 90 

" Eighth Regiment Vol. M. 89, 90 

" Seventeenth Regiment Inf. 16, 36, 

37, 38, 80, 90 
•'* Twenty-third Regiment Inf. 16,54, 

57, 80, 90 
" Twenty-fourth Regiment Inf. 

79, 90 
" Twenty-fifth Regiment Inf. 90 
'* Twenty-seventh Regiment Inf. 

80, 90 
" Forty-third Regiment Vol. M. 

42, 80, 90 
" Forty-fourth Regiment Vol. M. 

55, 79, 91 
Forty-fifth Regiment Vol. M. 

15, 16, 55, 80, 91* 
" Forty-sixth Regiment Vol. M. 

58, 80, 91 
" Fifty-first Regiment Vol. M. 

80, 91 
McClellan, Gen. George B. ... 82 

McEvoy, John . 89 

Merrimac 27 



Index. 



Vll 



Mexico .... 






. 


82 


Mexico, Molino del Rev 






. 


82 


Mix's Cavalry 








51, 53 


Mix, Col. Simon H. . 








51, 59, 90 


Mix, Lieut. John 






. 


12, 51 


Mollett, Gol. 






. 


16 


Morrison, Capt. Joseph J. 13, 


44, 


50, 


52, 


78, 81, 91 


Morrison's Battery 12, 


13, 


14, 


39, 


44, 48, 52 


Mosely Hall, N. C. . 






. 


27 


Moultrie, Fort, S.' C. . 






. 


83 


Mount Olive Station, N. C. 


29, 


31, 


32, 


33, 34. 44 


Murray, Capt. 






. 


17 


Murray, Commander A. 








71, 72, 77 


Nashua, N. H. . 






. 


82, 86, 89 


Nethercote, Major 






. 


16 


Nethercote's N. C. Battalion 






. 


16, 61 


Neucommer, . 






. 


14, 70 


Neuse River Bridge . 






. 


66 


Neuse River . . 16, 


23, 


27, 


41, 


42, 56, 59 


New Berne 9, 47, 58, 60, 


62, 


67, 


70, 


71, 83, 84 


New Hampshire 




. 


. 


86, 87 


New York Third Artillery:— 










A .... 




. 


. 


43 


B ... 43, 


50, 


58, 


60 


77, 80, 91 


C . . . . 




. 


. 


43, 91 


D . . . . 




. 


. 


43 


E . . . . 




. 


43 


80, 81, 91 


V .... 




. 


. 


43, 77, 91 



Vlll 



Index. 



New York Third Artillery^ continued. 

H 43 

I 43, 80, 92 

K 43, 80, 81, 92 

New York Third Artillery 12, 13, 14, 18, 24, 43, 

44, 50, Q^, 77 

New York Third Cavalry 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 22, 

24, 26, 32, 41, 43, 51, 57, 59, 80, 91 



A 

B 
C 
D 
E 
G 

K . . 10, 13, 22, 58, 

New York Eighty-eighth Infantry 
" Ninety-second Infantry 



Ninety-sixth Infantry 15, 57, 67, 70, 78 



New York Herald 
New York Times 
New Yorkers 
New York . 
Nicolo, 



5, 86 

5, 81 

59 

. 1,5 

23 

10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 28, 



46, 91 
10, 91 

26 
43, 46 

91 

43, 46 

1,68, 69, 91 

15 

15 



Ninth New Jersey 

29, 36, 37, 43, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 62, 63, 64, 68, 

70, 71, 78, 92 
North Carolinians . . . . . 59 
North Carolina . 1, 33, 45, 54, 77, 78, 83, 92 



Index. 



IX 



North Carolina Infantry 

" " Second Cavalry 

Third Cavalry" 

Rebel Troops 
Ocean Wave, Gunboat 
O'Donnell, Rev. John 
Ohio, Department of 
Old Point Comfort, Va. 
One Hundred and First Pennsylvania 
One Hundeed and Third Pennsylvania 
Parrott Gun ..... 

Peck*s, Gen., Brigade 
Perkins, Edward J., Death of 
Perkins, Lieut. W. W., Death of 
Pennsylvania Eighty-fifth Regiment 
Pennsylvania One Hundred and First 
Pennsylvania One Hundred and Third 

Pettigrew, Gen. J. J 

Phelps, Col. Walter, Jr. 

Pickett, Col. Josiah . , . . 

Pierson, Col. George N. . . . 

Pioneers, Contraband 

Poisoned Bullets .... 

Pond, Capt. N. P 

Porter, Col. 

Provost-Marshall, Major Franklin 
Ransom's Twenty-third' N. Y. Artillery 
Richmond, Col. S. P. 



60, 



16 

59 

16 

60 

., 75, 76 

87, 89 

85 

84 

15, 78, 92 

15, 78, 92 

74 

50 

75 

57 

15, 78, 92 

15, 78, 92 

15, 78, 92 

37 

92 

90 

79, 90 
10 
75 
32 
19 
18 
41 

80, 90 



Index. 



Rhode Island Fifth Regiment Infant r 


y . 91 


Riggs', William J., Battery 


44 


Raleigh, N. C. . 


. 


16 


Roanoke Island, N. C. 




83 


Rocket Battery 


. 


38 


Rogers, — . 


. ^ 


'22 


Rodman Gun 




13 


Sandy Hook, N. J. . 




83 


Savannah, Ga. 




85 


Schenck, Capt. Theo. H., Battery 


62, 66 


Second N. C. Cavalry 


59 


Seventeenth Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteers 


16, 36, 37, 38, 80, 90 


Sepoys . . . . _ . 


76 


Sherman, Gen. W. T. 


85 


Sleight, Capt. J. C 


41 


Snow Hill, N. C 


57 


South Carolina Regiments 39, 44, 48, 54, 56, 57 


South Carolina Second Cavalry 


16 


" '' Seventeenth Infantry 


16 


" '' Eighteenth Infantry . 


16 


'< " Twenty-third Infantry 


16 


Southwest Creek, N. C. 


11, 61, 84 


Spalding, Capt. S 


88 


Sprague, Col. A. B. R. 


80, 91 


Steamboats : — 




Ocean Wave . . . -. 


60, 71, 76 


Allison 




60, 72, 73 



Index. 



XI 



Steamboats, continued. 








North State 


71 


Port Royal 






71 


Wilson 






71 


Stevenson's Brigade . 






50, 55 


Stevenson, Thomas G. Col. 






79, 90 


Stevenson, Major R. N. 






79 


Suffolk, Virginia 






50 


Sumter, Fort, S. C. 






82, 83 


Tar River .... 






84 


Tenth Conn. Volunteer Inf. 18, 21, 51, 


71,79, 92 


Third Massachusetts Volunteers 






80, 90 



Third New York Artillery 12, 13, 14, 18, 24, 43, 

44, 50, 66, 77 
Third New York Cavalry 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 

22, 24, 26, 32, 41, 43, 51, 57, 59, 80, 91 
Third New York Cavalry : — 



Company A 
" B 
D 
E 
G 
K 
Trenton, N. C. 
Trent Road 
Trent River 



46, 91 
10, 91 
26, 43 
91 
43, 46 
10, 13, 22, 58, 61, 68, 69, 91 



50 

50 



Twenty-third In fan try, ^Massachusetts Volunteers 

16, 54, 57, 80, 90 



Xll 



Index. 



Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers . 90 
Twenty.fourth Massachusetts Volunteers 79, 90 
Twenty-seventh Massachusets Volunteer Inf. 

80, 90 
Twenty-third New York Independent Battery 44 
Twenty-fourth New York Independent Battery 

44, 77, 80, 92 

Union Troops 58, 59 

United States Navy 
Vera Cruz 
Washington, D. C. 
Wayne County, N. C. 
Weidon, N. c!! . 
Wells, Capt. Henry A., Death of 
Wessell's Brigade 13, 15, 29, 50, 5 
Wessell, Gen. H. W. 
West Point 

Whitehall, N. C. 1, 5, 9, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 40, 43^ 

52, 77, 84 
Whitfield, Capt. 
Willett's Point, Long Island 
Wilmington and Weidon R. R 
Wilmington, N. C. 
Wilson, Capt. John M. 
Wilson, Henry W. 



71 

81 
85 
45, 56 
49 
57 

3, 54, 55, 78 
15, 59, 65 
83 



50 

82 

49, 58 

31, 32, 40 

32 

10 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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